# List of Detroit Lions seasons

The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) North Division. The franchise was founded in Portsmouth, Ohio, as the Portsmouth Spartans and joined the NFL on July 12, 1930. After being purchased by George A. Richards in 1934, the franchise was relocated to Detroit and renamed to the Detroit Lions in reference to the city's Major League Baseball (MLB) franchise, the Detroit Tigers. The team plays its home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.
The Lions have won four NFL championships, all of which pre-date the existence of the Super Bowl. The Lions' four championships are tied for the tenth most total championships amongst all 32 NFL franchises; the last of these was in 1957, which gives the club the second-longest NFL championship drought behind the Arizona Cardinals. They are one of four current teams, and the only one in the NFC, to have never played in the Super Bowl. Two of these teams, the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Houston Texans, are expansion teams in the AFC that began play in 1995 and 2002 respectively. Additionally, the Lions have won only three post-season games since 1957. The Lions also lost an NFL-record nine consecutive playoff games from 1991 to 2023.
As of the end of the 2024 regular season, the Lions have an all-time record of 606 wins, 709 losses, and 34 ties in the regular season, with an additional 9 wins and 14 losses in the playoffs. The team has had 40 winning seasons, 49 losing seasons, and 6 seasons with as many wins as losses. The Lions were the first franchise to finish a full (non-strike shortened) regular season with no wins or ties, since the move to sixteen regular season games in 1978, going 0–16 during the 2008 NFL season.

## Seasons

Legend :
| $^{(#)}$ | The order of league championship won by the franchise |
| Finish | Final position in league, division, or conference |
| T-# | Finished tied in that position with one or more teams |
| Pct | The team's winning percentage for the season |
| $^†$ | NFL champions (1920–1969) |
| $^‡$ | Super Bowl champions (1970–present) |
| $^*$ | Conference champions |
| $^^$ | Division champions |
| $^§$ | Wild Card berth |
| $^°$ | One-game playoff berth |
Detroit Lions record by season :
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Regular season | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs |
| Season | Team | League | Conference | Division | Finish | W | L | T | Pct | Postseason results | Awards | Head coach | Refs |
| 1930 | 1930 | NFL | | | 8th | 5 | 6 | 3 | .464 | The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932 | | Hal Griffen | |
| 1931 | 1931 | NFL | | | 2nd | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | The NFL did not hold playoff games until 1932 | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1932 | 1932 | NFL | | | 3rd° | 6 | 2 | 4 | .667 | Lost Playoff Game (at Bears) 0–9 | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1933 | 1933 | NFL | | Western | 2nd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1934 | 1934 | NFL | | Western | 2nd | 10 | 3 | 0 | .769 | | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1935 | 1935 | NFL$^†$ | | Western$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 7 | 3 | 2 | .667 | Won NFL Championship $^{(1)}$ (Giants) 26–7 | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1936 | 1936 | NFL | | Western | 3rd | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1937 | 1937 | NFL | | Western | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | | | Dutch Clark | |
| 1938 | 1938 | NFL | | Western | 2nd | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | | | Dutch Clark | |
| 1939 | 1939 | NFL | | Western | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 0 | .545 | | | Gus Henderson | |
| 1940 | 1940 | NFL | | Western | 3rd | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | | | George "Potsy" Clark | |
| 1941 | 1941 | NFL | | Western | 3rd | 4 | 6 | 1 | .409 | | | Bill Edwards | |
| 1942 | 1942 | NFL | | Western | 5th | 0 | 11 | 0 | .000 | | | Bill Edwards (0–3) John Karcis (0–8) | |
| 1943 | 1943 | NFL | | Western | 3rd | 3 | 6 | 1 | .350 | | | Gus Dorais | |
| 1944 | 1944 | NFL | | Western | T–2nd | 6 | 3 | 1 | .650 | | Frank Sinkwich (MVPTooltip Joe F. Carr Trophy) | Gus Dorais | |
| 1945 | 1945 | NFL | | Western | 2nd | 7 | 3 | 0 | .700 | | | Gus Dorais | |
| 1946 | 1946 | NFL | | Western | 5th | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | | | Gus Dorais | |
| 1947 | 1947 | NFL | | Western | 5th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | | | Gus Dorais | |
| 1948 | 1948 | NFL | | Western | 5th | 2 | 10 | 0 | .167 | | | Bo McMillin | |
| 1949 | 1949 | NFL | | Western | 4th | 4 | 8 | 0 | .333 | | | Bo McMillin | |
| 1950 | 1950 | NFL | National | | 4th | 6 | 6 | 0 | .500 | | | Bo McMillin | |
| 1951 | 1951 | NFL | National | | T–2nd | 7 | 4 | 1 | .625 | | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1952 | 1952 | NFL$^†$ | National$^*$ | | T–1st° | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | Won Conference Playoff (Rams) 31–21 Won NFL Championship $^{(2)}$ (at Browns) 17–7 | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1953 | 1953 | NFL$^†$ | Western$^*$ | | 1st$^*$ | 10 | 2 | 0 | .833 | Won NFL Championship $^{(3)}$ (Browns) 17–16 | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1954 | 1954 | NFL | Western$^*$ | | 1st$^*$ | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | Lost NFL Championship (at Browns) 10–56 | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1955 | 1955 | NFL | Western | | 6th | 3 | 9 | 0 | .250 | | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1956 | 1956 | NFL | Western | | 2nd | 9 | 3 | 0 | .750 | | | Buddy Parker | |
| 1957 | 1957 | NFL$^†$ | Western$^*$ | | 1st$^*$ | 8 | 4 | 0 | .667 | Won Conference Playoff (at 49ers) 31–27 Won NFL Championship $^{(4)}$ (Browns) 59–14 | George Wilson (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) | George Wilson | |
| 1958 | 1958 | NFL | Western | | 5th | 4 | 7 | 1 | .375 | | | George Wilson | |
| 1959 | 1959 | NFL | Western | | 5th | 3 | 8 | 1 | .292 | | | George Wilson | |
| 1960 | 1960 | NFL | Western | | T–2nd$^°$ | 7 | 5 | 0 | .583 | Won Playoff Bowl (vs. Browns) 17–16 | | George Wilson | |
| 1961 | 1961 | NFL | Western | | 2nd$^°$ | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | Won Playoff Bowl (vs. Eagles) 38–10 | | George Wilson | |
| 1962 | 1962 | NFL | Western | | 2nd$^°$ | 11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | Won Playoff Bowl (vs. Steelers) 17–10 | | George Wilson | |
| 1963 | 1963 | NFL | Western | | T–4th | 5 | 8 | 1 | .393 | | | George Wilson | |
| 1964 | 1964 | NFL | Western | | 4th | 7 | 5 | 2 | .571 | | | George Wilson | |
| 1965 | 1965 | NFL | Western | | 6th | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | | | Harry Gilmer | |
| 1966 | 1966 | NFL | Western | | T–6th | 4 | 9 | 1 | .321 | | | Harry Gilmer | |
| 1967 | 1967 | NFL | Western | Central | 3rd | 5 | 7 | 2 | .429 | | Lem Barney (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award)Mel Farr (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1968 | 1968 | NFL | Western | Central | 4th | 4 | 8 | 2 | .357 | | Earl McCullouch (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1969 | 1969 | NFL | Western | Central | 2nd | 9 | 4 | 1 | .679 | | | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1970 | 1970 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd$^§$ | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Cowboys) 0–5 | | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1971 | 1971 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 6 | 1 | .536 | | | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1972 | 1972 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 5 | 1 | .607 | | | Joe Schmidt | |
| 1973 | 1973 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 6 | 7 | 1 | .464 | | | Don McCafferty | |
| 1974 | 1974 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | | | Rick Forzano | |
| 1975 | 1975 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 7 | 7 | 0 | .500 | | | Rick Forzano | |
| 1976 | 1976 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | | Greg Landry (CBPOYTooltip AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year) | Rick Forzano (1–3) Tommy Hudspeth (5–5) | |
| 1977 | 1977 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | | | Tommy Hudspeth | |
| 1978 | 1978 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | Al Baker (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Monte Clark | |
| 1979 | 1979 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | | | Monte Clark | |
| 1980 | 1980 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | | Billy Sims (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Monte Clark | |
| 1981 | 1981 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | | | Monte Clark | |
| 1982 | 1982 | NFL | NFC | None | 8th$^§$ | 4 | 5 | 0 | .444 | Lost First Round Playoffs (at Redskins) 7–31 | | Monte Clark | |
| 1983 | 1983 | NFL | NFC | Central$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (at 49ers) 23–24 | | Monte Clark | |
| 1984 | 1984 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | | | Monte Clark | |
| 1985 | 1985 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | | Darryl Rogers | |
| 1986 | 1986 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Darryl Rogers | |
| 1987 | 1987 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 4 | 11 | 0 | .267 | | | Darryl Rogers | |
| 1988 | 1988 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | | | Darryl Rogers (2–9)Wayne Fontes (2–3) | |
| 1989 | 1989 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | Barry Sanders (OROYTooltip NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1990 | 1990 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | | | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1991 | 1991 | NFL | NFC | Central$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | Won Divisional Playoffs (Cowboys) 38–6 Lost NFC Championship (at Redskins) 10–41 | Wayne Fontes (COYTooltip NFL Coach of the Year Award) | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1992 | 1992 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1993 | 1993 | NFL | NFC | Central$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (Packers) 24–28 | | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1994 | 1994 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd$^§$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 12–16 | Barry Sanders (OPOYTooltip NFL Offensive Player of the Year) | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1995 | 1995 | NFL | NFC | Central | 2nd$^§$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Eagles) 37–58 | | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1996 | 1996 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Wayne Fontes | |
| 1997 | 1997 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd$^§$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Buccaneers) 10–20 | Barry Sanders (MVPTooltip NFL Most Valuable Player Award) | Bobby Ross | |
| 1998 | 1998 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Bobby Ross | |
| 1999 | 1999 | NFL | NFC | Central | 3rd$^§$ | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Redskins) 13–27 | | Bobby Ross | |
| 2000 | 2000 | NFL | NFC | Central | 4th | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | | | Bobby Ross (5–4)Gary Moeller (4–3) | |
| 2001 | 2001 | NFL | NFC | Central | 5th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | | | Marty Mornhinweg | |
| 2002 | 2002 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | | | Marty Mornhinweg | |
| 2003 | 2003 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Steve Mariucci | |
| 2004 | 2004 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | | | Steve Mariucci | |
| 2005 | 2005 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Steve Mariucci (4–7)Dick Jauron (1–4) | |
| 2006 | 2006 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | | | Rod Marinelli | |
| 2007 | 2007 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | | Rod Marinelli | |
| 2008 | 2008 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 0 | 16 | 0 | .000 | | | Rod Marinelli | |
| 2009 | 2009 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 2 | 14 | 0 | .125 | | | Jim Schwartz | |
| 2010 | 2010 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | | Ndamukong Suh (DROYTooltip NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award) | Jim Schwartz | |
| 2011 | 2011 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd$^§$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Saints) 28–45 | Matthew Stafford (CBPOYTooltip AP NFL Comeback Player of the Year) | Jim Schwartz | |
| 2012 | 2012 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | | | Jim Schwartz | |
| 2013 | 2013 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | | Jim Schwartz | |
| 2014 | 2014 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd$^§$ | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–24 | | Jim Caldwell | |
| 2015 | 2015 | NFL | NFC | North | 3rd | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | | | Jim Caldwell | |
| 2016 | 2016 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd$^§$ | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Seahawks) 6–26 | | Jim Caldwell | |
| 2017 | 2017 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | | | Jim Caldwell | |
| 2018 | 2018 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | | | Matt Patricia | |
| 2019 | 2019 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 12 | 1 | .219 | | | Matt Patricia | |
| 2020 | 2020 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | | | Matt Patricia (4–7)Darrell Bevell (1–4) | |
| 2021 | 2021 | NFL | NFC | North | 4th | 3 | 13 | 1 | .206 | | | Dan Campbell | |
| 2022 | 2022 | NFL | NFC | North | 2nd | 9 | 8 | 0 | .529 | | | Dan Campbell | |
| 2023 | 2023 | NFL | NFC | North$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 12 | 5 | 0 | .706 | Won Wild Card Playoffs (Rams) 24–23 Won Divisional Playoffs (Buccaneers) 31–23 Lost NFC Championship (at 49ers) 31–34 | | Dan Campbell | |
| 2024 | 2024 | NFL | NFC | North$^^$ | 1st$^^$ | 15 | 2 | 0 | .882 | Lost Divisional Playoffs (Commanders) 31–45 | | Dan Campbell | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 606 | 709 | 34 | .462 | All-time NFL regular season record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL regular season record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL regular season record (1930–2024) | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 9 | 15 | — | .375 | All-time NFL postseason record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL postseason record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL postseason record (1930–2024) | |
| Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | Totals | 615 | 724 | 34 | .460 | All-time NFL regular & postseason record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL regular & postseason record (1930–2024) | All-time NFL regular & postseason record (1930–2024) | |